Which Major WWE Star Almost Picked MMA Over Wrestling?

What a loss this would've been...

AJ Styles
WWE

Imagine AJ Styles had decided to do something else with his life instead of becoming a world class pro wrestler.

It's difficult to envision the industry today without AJ's talents, but he told fans watching his Twitch channel that he very nearly plumped for mixed martial arts instead. The problem was that MMA wasn't quite as big as it is now, so Styles' options were limited.

The reigning Intercontinental Champion told fans on his gaming stream that he likely would've picked MMA over wrestling had it been more "popular", and reckons he would've tried the sport "right out of high school". It wasn't to be, which is a good thing for both WWE and pro wrestling.

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At 43 years old, there's no way AJ will ever give MMA a bash. He realises that the sport's future lies in young men and women who kick off their training as soon as they've finished school. That gives them "a leg up on everybody" else.

So, there you go. AJ Styles could've traded pioneering TNA's X Division and eventually becoming a WWE success story for UFC. Thank God that didn't happen.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood.